Healing Lesvos welcomes Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ commitment to creating a national network of marine parks, as recently announced under the “Amorgorama” initiative. This initiative opens new paths for the management of marine ecosystems, with the meaningful participation of fishers and local communities.
Healing Lesvos began its activities in 2016 with the mission of protecting the sea and coastal ecosystems of Lesvos.
Today, it is developing a comprehensive strategy for marine protection on the island, based on data, scientific evidence, best practices, and the integration of Lesvos’ social, cultural, and economic characteristics. The goal is the permanent protection of the sea and its connection to sustainable tourism.
In this context, Healing Lesvos is already collaborating with the Association of Professional Fishers of Western Lesvos “O MAKAR,” the Municipality of Western Lesvos, and the University of the Aegean, promoting the creation of marine protection zones. Professional fishers support the initiative, recognizing its benefits for the environment and the local economy, and are committed to actively participating in the formation of a shared framework for sustainable management of the marine ecosystem.
In 2026, thematic workshops and consultations will be held with fishers, tourism professionals, scientists, and local stakeholders, in collaboration with the Policy Lab of Nikolas Yatromanolakis. The results will feed into the strategy for the design and recognition of a Marine Protected Area on Lesvos, in parallel with the national plan for Aegean marine parks.
Speaking at the 7th Dialogue Forum of the National Network for Climate Change – CLIMPACT, organized by the University of the Aegean on October 3 in Mytilene, the founder of Healing Lesvos, Eleni Atsikbasi, stated:
“After ten years of cleanups and educational activities, we are at a turning point. The next step is permanent marine protection — an evolution that brings stability and new opportunities for tourism. Our strategy lays the foundations for special forms of tourism and diving routes, designed collectively and with a long-term vision.”
She also referred to the organization’s experience in cleaning ghost nets and marine debris with the support of Mission Blue and the Plum Foundation.
As she emphasized,
“For Lesvos, the sea is not just a natural resource or a tourism product; it is a space of history, culture, memory, and borders — and that is why its protection must be viewed as a collective vision for the island’s future.”
Healing Lesvos NPO was founded in 2018 and develops partnerships for seabed cleanups, education, and awareness workshops. It also implements the Lesvos Mission Blue Hope Spot project in the area of Petra, in collaboration with the University of the Aegean and the international organization Mission Blue.
Download the press release in Greek from the link below:
